Simultaneous installer/injector/auger systems and methods

ABSTRACT

An augered fence post that is both an auger and a fence post. Like an auger, the augered fence post can be drilled into the ground. Unlike an auger, the augered fence post is left in the ground to become a fence post. When drilled into the ground, the helical screw cuts a hole. The fence post being hollow, fill material can be flowed through the post, out of flow holes, and directly into the hole. The flow holes are positioned such that they are down in the hole when the fill material is flowed. The fill material can be a mixture containing cement or can be a foam. The foam can be formed by mixing two or more components that produce a foam that hardens within the hole.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application and claims the priority and benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/159,894, titled “SIMULTANEOUS INSTALLER/INJECTOR/AUGER SYSTEMS AND METHODS” filed on Mar. 11, 2021, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments are related to augers, post hole diggers, and to fence posts with injectable footings.

BACKGROUND

Historically, fence posts and similar posts have been set by digging a hole, setting the post in position within the hole, and then filling the hole with a footing material such as dirt, rocks, concrete, or a combination of such materials. This technique has worked well for millennia. Advances in materials and machinery have led to improved fence posts and speedier digging. Further advances are possible. Systems and methods for placing posts that are based on further advances in materials and machinery are needed.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the embodiments and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.

It is therefore an aspect of the embodiments that an augered fence post can be drilled into the ground. The augered fence post includes a fence post, a pointed end, and a helical screw. The fence post is hollow and has a top and a bottom. The pointed end is at the bottom. The length along the fence post is the helix length and the helix screw extends from the bottom toward the top. When drilling the augered fence post into the ground, the helical screw blade cuts a hole in the ground.

The hole can be filled with fill material without removing the augered fence post from the hole. Flow holes in the fence post provide for flowing the fill material though the fence post, out the flow holes and into the hole.

The fill material can be foam. Many foams are produced when two or more foam components are mixed together. Those practiced in insulating buildings are familiar with insulating foam that can be installed using a nozzle that mixes two foam components and sprays the mixture into position where it foams and hardens. A chemical reaction produces the foam which can flow at first and then hardens or sets. The foam components can be mixed in a vessel attached to the top of the post such that the foam forces itself through the fence post and out of the flow holes. The foam components can be mixed inside the fence post such that it flows out of the flow holes into the hole. The foam components can be mixed and then placed inside the fence post such that the foam lows through the flow holes. The foam can be prevented from flowing out the top of the post by a cap, a plug, or a blockage. The augered fence post can include the foam components, each isolated from the other. Breaking the isolation can allow for the foam components to mix and produce foam. A packet holding the foam components separate can be positioned within the fence post such that the foam components mix when the package is broken.

The fill material can include cement. Cement is a component of concrete, mortar, and grout. For example, mixing cement, sand, and aggregate can produce concrete. Mixing cement and sand can produce mortar. The fill material can be flowed into the top of the fence post, perhaps under pressure, such that it flows through the flow holes and into the hole. The fill material can be foam concrete. Foam concrete is also called aircrete. lightweight cellular concrete, low density cellular concrete, foamed concrete, foamcrete, cellular lightweight concrete or reduced density concrete. Foam concrete can be produced by the hardening of a cement-based slurry that, in general, contains at least 20% (per volume) foam.

The flow holes can be in the pointed end, in the fence post, or both. The helix length is the length of the helical screw, measured as a straight-line length along the long axis of the fence post. The bottom of the helical screw can be positioned at the bottom of the fence post. The flow holes can be positioned above the bottom of the fence post and no higher than the helix length above the bottom. As such, the fill holes would be below ground level when the helical screw is below ground level. Fill material flowing out of the flow holes may flow along and around the helical screw.

The augered fence post can have a top coupling. A machine removably attached to the top coupling can drill the augered fence post into the ground. A handle removably attached to the top coupling can be used by a person manually drilling the augered fence post into the ground. The coupling can be an attachment point for a hose that flows fill material into the fence post. The coupling can be an attachment point for a vessel in which foam components are mixed. The coupling can be an attachment point for a tool that is for mixing or combining foam components inside the fence post.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate the present invention and, together with the background of the invention, brief summary of the invention, and detailed description of the invention, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a machine driving an augered fence post into the ground in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates augered fence posts that are assembled from component parts in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates bits for augered fence posts in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates an augered fence post with a wide helical screw in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates an augered fence post with a narrow helical screw in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 6, consisting of FIGS. 6A-6C, illustrates augered fence posts with small, medium, and large flow holes in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates a hand turning attachment on an augered fence post in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 8, consisting of FIGS. 8A-8B, illustrates single turns of two helical screws in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 9 illustrates a helical screw in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 10 illustrates a machine injecting fill material into an augered fence post in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 11 illustrates fence sections with pre-attached augered fence posts in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 12 illustrates fence sections with pre-attached augered fence posts in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 13 illustrates a truck injecting quick setting cement into an augered fence post in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 14 illustrates placement of an augered fence post and fence attachment in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 15 illustrates signage with an augered sign post in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 16 illustrates flex fence with augered fence posts in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 17 illustrates picket fencing with augered fence posts in accordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 18 illustrates a syringe for injecting fill material in accordance with aspects of the embodiments; and

FIG. 19 illustrates an augered fence post with an internal cartridge that produces foam in accordance with aspects of the embodiments.

DESCRIPTION

The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate at least one embodiment and are not intended to limit the scope thereof. In general, the figures are not to scale.

FIG. 1 illustrates a machine driving an augered fence post into the ground in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The machine can be bolted to a moveable platform or can have treads or wheels. An arm, such as that of a backhoe or excavator can have an attachment that can grip and turn an augered fence post to thereby drive the helical screw into the ground and to produce a hole. The machine's injector attachment can then force fill material into the top of the augered fence post. A level can measure angles from vertical such that an operator in the machine cab can adjust the arm to set the fence post into a vertical orientation or at a known angle with respect to a vertical orientation. Here, a vertical orientation indicates that the long axis of the augered fence post is parallel to that of gravitational force.

After drilling the helical screw into the ground, the machine stops drilling. The machine can hold the augered fence post in a vertical orientation with the helical screw in the hole produced by the drilling. The machine can then inject fill material through the augered fence post and into the hole. The machine can continue holding the augered fence post in position until the fill material has hardened enough that the machine can release the augered fence post. The fill material has hardened enough when it can hold the augered fence post in the vertical orientation without assistance.

FIG. 2 illustrates augered fence posts that are assembled from component parts in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. This non-limiting example has an upper fence post and a lower fence post. The augered fence post has a top and a bottom. An adapter can be fastened to the top end. As illustrated, the adapter and the upper fence post are threaded such that the adapter can be threaded onto the upper fence post. The adapter can provide for machine attachment, as seen in FIG. 1. The adapter can provide for injector attachment such that a hose or other fitting can be temporarily fit to the adapter and fill material injected into the augered fence post. The attachment can provide handholds such that the augered fence post can be manually driven into the ground. Threading the top of an augered fence post can alternatively provide for direct connection to drilling machines, fill material injectors, hand turning attachments, additional lengths of post, signage, and other attachments.

The lower fence post can be attached to the upper fence post by a connection such as the illustrated threaded connection. The power fence posts of FIG. 2 are shown with different types of drilling apparatus such as a conical screw, an auger blade (also called a helical screw), and cutter blades. The lower fence posts have flow holes for flowing fill material into a hole cut by the drilling apparatus. The upper fence post and the lower fence post being separate attachable pieces, the upper fence post is replaceable after the lower fence post fixed in the ground by fill material.

FIG. 3 illustrates bits for augered fence posts in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The drill bits can be attached to the ends of fence posts such as those illustrated in FIGS. 4-7. The ground into which the augered fence posts are drilled can be top soil, gravel, sand, sand stone, etc. The bit on the end of the fence post can be selected according to the type of ground that is being drilled. Bit A is a threaded cone. Bit B is a side wedge. Bit C is a threaded non-conical widening wave. Bit D is a bottom end cutter.

FIG. 4 illustrates an augered fence post with a wide helical screw in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. A cutting blade at the lower end of the helical screw can be a stronger and thicker piece than the helical screw. For example, the helical screw can be one or two millimeters thick while the cutting blade can be two times thicker, three times thicker than the helical screw. The cutting blade can be a different material than the helical screw. For example, the helical screw can be a galvanized steel while the cutting blade is tool steel or another steel that is harder than the helical screw. Such an arrangement can save on weight and material costs. Flow holes in the fence post allow fill material to flow out of the fence post and into an augered out hole. The wide helical screw can be seen to be as wide, radially from the fence post to the outer edge of the helical screw, as the fence post's diameter. Even wider helical screws can be used.

FIG. 5 illustrates an augered fence post with a narrow helical screw in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The narrow helical screw can be seen to be narrower, radially from the fence post to the outer edge of the helical screw, than the fence post's radius. Even narrower helical screws can be used. Helical screws having a width between that shown in FIG. 4 and that shown in FIG. 5 can be used. The width of the helical screw can be selected based on the ground that is to be drilled. A narrow helical screw can be better for harder ground such as concrete, sand stone, permafrost, asphalt, and roadways. Wider helical screws can be used for ground that is softer than the aforementioned harder ground, such as loam, topsoil, and sand. Some ground material is soft enough to flow into the hole as it is being drilled. Flowing the fill material into the hole as it is being drilled can be advantageous in situations including soft material flowing into the hole being drilled. In such cases the flow holes can be located only at the bottom of the helical screw.

FIG. 6, consisting of FIGS. 6A-6C, illustrates augered fence posts with small, medium, and large flow holes in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The size of the flow holes can determine how quickly fill material flows into the hole. The size of the holes can also determine the strength of the fence post.

FIG. 7 illustrates a hand turning attachment on an augered fence post in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. As with the helical screw of FIG. 5, the helical screw of FIG. 7 is narrow. A narrow helical screw can require less force to turn than a wider one. The flow holes are also illustrated as small, perhaps smaller than the helical screw is wide. As discussed above, the fence post gets weaker as the holes get larger. Small holes allow for a thinner walled fence pipe, which can be lighter and less expensive. These can be important factors when the holes are being drilled using the power of human muscle.

FIG. 8, consisting of FIGS. 8A-8B, illustrates single turns of two helical screws in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. As discussed above, a narrow blade is easier to drive into the ground than a wide blade. One function of the helical screw is to pull material up and out of the hole. The material, however, can flow back into the hole due to gravity. As such, the helical screw should have a pitch narrow enough that the ground material is lifted out of the hole without falling back in. Another aspect of the pitch is that a narrow pitch leads to a longer helix. Helix length can be measured along a spiraling edge of the helical screw. The longer the helix length, the more material required to form the helical screw.

FIG. 9 illustrates a helical screw in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. Here, a helical screw without a fence post or cutting edge can be observed.

FIG. 10 illustrates a machine injecting fill material into an augered fence post in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The illustrated machine can drive two augered fence posts at a time. The augered fence posts can be provided in pairs with self-contained fencing such that the augered fence posts can be set in the ground and the fencing immediately deployed. The machine can contain fill material such as cement that it injects through the augered fence posts and into the drilled holes. Alternatively, the machine can contain components that can be mixed by the machine to form the fill material as it is injected into the holes. Such components can be water and cement which can be mixed to form concrete. Such components can be chemicals that, when mixed, produce foam that hardens.

FIG. 11 illustrates fence sections with pre-attached augered fence posts in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. Some of the fence sections have two augered fence posts while others have three augered fence posts. The three-post variety has posts on the ends and one in the middle. The two-post variety has posts with fencing on either side. The sections can be installed with two-post sections between three-post sections. The sections can be attached by attaching the fencing of the two- post sections to the outer posts of the three-post sections. The sections can use fencing that is chain link, chicken wire, flex fence, plastic sheet, pickets, or other fence materials. The fencing can be decorative. For example, murals can be printed on the fencing material. A rabbit proofer at the bottom of the fencing can lie on the ground, or can be buried, to prevent vermin from burrowing past the fence.

FIG. 12 illustrates fence sections with pre-attached augered fence posts in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. Here, the fencing has a horizontal projection at the bottom with a narrow gauge fencing such as chicken wire. Two post fencing sections are shown. The ends of the fencing must be joined to form a continuous fence. Those practiced in putting up fences know of a wide variety of ways to join sections of fencing.

FIG. 13 illustrates a truck injecting quick setting cement into an augered fence post in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. A truck carrying a supply of augered fence posts and having robotic arms can drive augered fence posts into the ground. Another truck can inject fill material. The function of both trucks can be combined in a single vehicle.

FIG. 14 illustrates placement of an augered fence post and fence attachment in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. Here, the concept of FIG. 13 is extended to include a supply of fencing on the vehicle. The fencing can be unrolled and fastened to augered fence posts as those posts are set in place. As such, a vehicle or team of vehicles can set entire fence rows in place.

FIG. 15 illustrates signage with an augered sign post in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. Augered sign posts can be set using the technology discussed above for setting augered fence posts. An augered sign post can have a bit and a helical screw that are drilled into the ground. Fill material can be injected into the hole produced by the drilling. A sign, such as a stop sign, can be attached to the augered sign post.

FIG. 16 illustrates flex fence with augered fence posts in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. Flex fence is a well-known type of fencing that is designed for fence lines that cross hills and valleys.

FIG. 17 illustrates picket fencing with augered fence posts in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. Augered fence posts can be installed in the ground for later use with fencing. The fencing, such as picket fencing, can be installed later using the augered fence post as a support post. Alternatively, sections of fencing or single pickets can be obtained that already have attached augered fence posts. In such installations, augered fence posts can be installed in the ground, thereby also installing the sections of fencing.

FIG. 18 illustrates a syringe for injecting fill material in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. As discussed above, the fill material can be injected through the augered fence post and into the hole that was drilled by the augered fence post. It is well known that cement can be pumped with considerable force to thereby move it long distances or upward against gravity. Such pumping can also inject fill material through the augered fence post and into the hole. Alternatively, other mechanisms can be used. For example, filler material can be put in a syringe type structure which can then inject the fill material through the augered fence post and into the hole.

FIG. 19 illustrates an augered fence post with an internal cartridge that produces foam in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. Cartridges containing two or more chemicals, here chemical A and chemical B, can be pierced or broken such that the chemicals mix and form fill material. The cartridges can be attached to the augered fence post after drilling, can be placed in the augered fence post after drilling, or can be installed in the augered fence post before drilling. The cartridges can be broken by driving a screwing or a breaker into the cartridges. For example, a rod or blade can be forced through the cartridges or a hole can be drilled through the cartridges. The chemicals can be mixed by agitating them in the augered fence post, in the hole, or both. For example, the chemicals can be forced into the hole and the augered fence post turned, as it was during drilling. The augered fence post can also be moved up and down in the hole to agitate the chemicals. A stopper disk can help prevent the fill material from leaving the hole and can help push fill material back into the hole. Note that the stopper disk is illustrated as concave such that the outer edges contact the ground first when the stopper disk is pushed downward. The edges and the concave shape can create a seal around the hole such that fill material is pushed back into the hole instead of being spread around the hole.

The augered fence post technology can also be used for installing fasteners, studs, or posts into structures other than the ground. For example, fasteners can be installed into a drywall, cement, stucco, earthen or similar wall by drilling the fastener into the wall, leaving it in the hole that was drilled, and injecting the fill material into the hole. In such cases, the fill material can be injected using a syringe. The fill material can be foam or concrete as discussed above or can be glue or epoxy.

It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also, that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: drilling an augered fence post into the ground, the augered fence post that includes a fence post, a pointed end, and a helical screw configured with a helical screw blade, wherein the fence post is hollow and comprises a bottom and a top, wherein the pointed end is at the bottom, wherein the helical screw extends from the bottom toward the top, and wherein the helical screw blade cuts a hole in the ground; and without removing the augered fence post from the hole, filling the hole with a fill material wherein the fill material flows out of the fence post and into the hole, and wherein the fill material sets within the hole to thereby hold the fence post upright within the hole.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the fill material flows out of the fence post through at least one flow hole in the pointed end.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the helical screw has a helix length, the fill material flows out of at least one flow hole in the fence post, and the at least one flow hole positioned no more than the helix length from the bottom.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the fill material flows into the top, through the fence post, and into the hole.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the fill material is formed in the fence post when a first component combines with a second component.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the fill material is foam.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the augered fence post includes a top coupling configured for removably attaching to a machine that drills the augered fence post into the ground.
 8. A system comprising: an augered fence post that includes a fence post, a pointed end, a helical screw configured with a helical screw blade, and at least one flow hole, wherein the fence post is hollow and comprises a bottom and a top, wherein the pointed end is at the bottom, wherein the helical screw extends from the bottom toward the top, wherein the helical screw has a helix length, wherein the helical screw blade cuts a hole in the ground; and wherein the augered fence post is configured to be drilled into the ground with the helical screw cutting the hole in the ground.
 9. The system of claim 8 further including fill material inside the fence post, the at least one flow hole, and the hole in the ground.
 10. The system of claim 8 further including fill material configured to flow through the fence post, out of the at least one flow hole, and into the hole in the ground.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein the fill material flows into the top.
 12. The system of claim 11 wherein the fill material includes cement.
 13. The system of claim 11 wherein the fill material is a foam formed when a first component combines with a second component.
 14. The system of claim 10 wherein the fill material is formed in the fence post when a first component combines with a second component.
 15. The system of claim 14 wherein the fill material is foam. 